After seven years, Kirkuk Labours Syndicate elected for first time

Kirkuk workers elected their syndicate after seven years following the abolition of the former syndicate formed under the temporary Iraqi Governing Council after 2003.

Burhan Ali, head of the Kirkuk branch of the Labours Syndicate told a-Sumariya News said, “More than four thousand laborers elected their syndicate after there not being an election since 2005.”

There were 16 people nominated with 11 of them being chosen. The head of the syndicate had 45 votes, as Shakir Muhamad Hamdani, the deputy head had 35. Walid Qadir has become the financial manager with 33 votes.

The June 26 elections were carried out under the monitoring of the Appeals Court. “It (the syndicate) has a role in protecting workers’ rights and defending them,” Ali said.

As a first step, the syndicate asked the Iraqi government to abolish the decision nr. 8750 of 2005 made by the Iraqi Governing Council which was about freezing the syndicate’s money.